In Russia, the issuance of digital passports was postponed - there is not enough plastic and chips

Russia continues to prove its (in) "power" and "resistance" to Western sanctions - this time the issuance of digital passports has been stopped before it has even begun. And this despite the fact that the project exists since 2013!

What's wrong again?

Forbes writes that the project has been postponed indefinitely. Initially, it was planned to start issuing new electronic passports in the form of a smart card and an application with a QR code by the beginning of 2023. But only in text form and only in a few regions.

Almost 10 years have passed - and things are still there. When Ukrainians use ID-cards and the Diya application, electronic documents do not shine for Russians. And there are several reasons, according to sources. After all, the Russian government decided that this project is now “not a priority”, and in the current conditions “everyone is a little bit not up to it”.

Firstly, the standard of living in the Russian Federation is so high that the price of 1000 rubles for a digital passport is too expensive. The usual one costs 300 rubles, so the Russians are unlikely to want to change the "paper" for plastic, because the benefit is not obvious.

The second reason is the shortage of material for the production of digital documents, including plastic and chips. Previously, most chips for the production of plastic smart cards were imported from European countries, but after the imposition of sanctions, the shop was closed. What can I say, now Russia does not even have enough chips to issue bank cards.

Source: Forbes